Certified Wedding Planner

OVERVIEW

Wedding planners combine creativity and organization to help happy couples celebrate the most important day of their lives. Train for a career surrounded by celebratory events!

In this program, you will master the fundamentals of planning, orchestrating, and delivering stunning weddings and parties. This program allows you to earn your certification as a professional wedding planner and will give you an opportunity to put your new skills to work in an optional internship.

DETAILS

In this program, you'll learn all aspects of the wedding and social event industry. From creating event concepts and planning ceremony details to handling vendor contracts, you'll learn the professional processes used to make a couple's dream wedding or any special event or party a success.

You'll take practice assignments geared toward starting a business in the industry and develop items including client contracts, service packages, and client profiling forms that you can put to use immediately in your new career. Templates, real-life examples, and discussion forums will help guide you through your training. You'll also have access to an online resource library containing more than 150 customizable documents you can download and use for your clients.

As a wedding planner, you'll play an integral role in the planning of a couple's most important day. You'll learn about planning, budgets, vendors, contracts, revenue channels, and more. You'll also learn how to keep up with the latest trends in bridal fashion, color choices, and wedding design. To address these demands, this program includes activities such as role-playing and vignettes that give you the opportunity to practice your new skills in realistic settings.

You'll be able to contact your instructors as often as you need during the program and schedule phone, Skype, or online discussion forum meetings to discuss assignments if needed. You'll also have access to the online student and graduate community, where thousands of Certified Wedding Planner graduates communicate, collaborate, and network with each other and a team of veteran instructors.

Internship Opportunity

This program also provides you with information on customized internships. You will receive notifications on internships in your area. It is also possible for you to receive invitations to industry conferences and events.

This internship is an opportunity for you to get hands-on experience in wedding and special event planning. An internship enables you to apply your new knowledge and skills in a work setting while making important professional connections.

An internship can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career. Typical internships can be as short as a few hours of working on an event and often last up to six months. Internship opportunities may be paid or non-paid. In many cases, these positions lead to employment.

Upon registering, you are given an initial nine (9) months to complete this program.

OUTLINE

I. Wedding Industry Overview A. How wedding planning has evolved around
the world
B. The purpose of an engagement
C. Current statistics for marriage-bound couples 2014
D. Wedding seasons
E. The wedding budget

III. Your Role as a Certified Wedding Planner A. The Event Planning Process
B. Questions to ask a new bride-to-be
C. How to develop a client profile
D. How to set vendor expectations
E. How to set the expectations of the bride and her
family
F. Event/project management
G. RASCI charting
H. Wedding etiquette, mishaps, and mayhem

IV. Running Your Own Business A. How to Run Your Own Business Based on your
marketplace
B. How to evaluate your competition when
establishing your services
C. How to set preliminary marketing objectives
D. Tools and tips for organizing your home office
and business practices
E. Business start-up costs

V. Documentation and Goals A. The importance of documentation
B. How documentation of your business practices
plays a vital role in the success of your business
C. How to set goals for yourself and your business
D. Wedding & Event Design Tool Kit

VI. Vendor and Venue Selection A. Why vendor selection is a key element in
the success of your business
B. How to identify quality vendors
C. The questions to ask when building your vendor
network

VII. Contracts and Negotiations A. Contract Law
B. The key elements of a contract
C. Contract rules to remember
D. The importance of having business insurance
E. U.S. Chamber of Commerce business resources
F. Contract negotiations

VIII. The Traditional Wedding Planner A. Traditional vs Contemporary wedding
planner fees
B. How to create wedding packages as a traditional
wedding planner
C. Role of wedding planner, wedding coordinator, and
wedding director
D. How to work with a prospective bridal client
E. Tools and suggestions for initial consultations

X. Traditional and Non-Traditional Wedding Ceremonies A. The key elements of traditional,
non-traditional, and civil wedding ceremonies
B. What questions to ask when planning a specific
type of wedding and venue
C. How to delegate bridal party responsibilities and
who is responsible for what
D. How to keep abreast of wedding trends and fashion
E. Emergency tips and what is included in a wedding
day emergency kit

XIV. Marketing Your Business A. Partnering with the right associations
B. The importance of marketing and establishing a
mission
C. Key elements of your reputation and image
D. Networking

XV. Marketing on a Local Level A. Self-Promotion
B. Ideas to help you market locally
C. Organizing and conducting a successful seminar
D. Dina Manzo's It's My Party and I'll Plan if
I Want To! workshop

XVI. Bridal Shows A. The importance of bridal show participation
B. Researching bridal shows
C. Essential elements of a bridal show checklist
D. Booking a show
E. Working a booth
F. Conducting a post bridal show follow-up

REQUIREMENTS

This program is compatible with the Mac OS, Windows XP, and later operating systems and IE 7 and later browsers. You must be able to view Flash content to utilize the online curriculum. You will also need access to a computer with Internet access and emailing capabilities.

The following textbooks will be provided with your tuition:

Professional Wedding and Event Planning, How to Start a Wedding and Event Planning Business

Dina Manzo’s It’s My Party and I’ll Plan If I Want To

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites for this program. The program is ideal for you if you're interested in becoming a full- or part-time wedding planner or event planner.

INSTRUCTOR

Cho Phillipsis the founder and CEO of Lovegevity, Inc. and author of Professional Wedding and Event Planning, How to Start a Wedding Planning Business textbook and resource manual. She is also co-author of Preston Bailey's "Signature Wedding and Event Design" course, co-author of Dina Manzo's, It's My Party And I'll Plan If I Want To and co-author of SMART Corporate Event Planning. Through her company, Lovegevity, Cho has helped thousands of brides around the country, and is a consultant and trainer to numerous corporations servicing the bridal market. As founder of The Wedding Planning Institute and a curriculum provider to many colleges and universities, Cho provides an opportunity for subject matter experts to contribute to the standardization and education for wedding professionals.

Cho is frequently featured in the media as an expert on wedding industry trends, professional certification, and wedding planning. She has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Washington Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Las Vegas Sun, and has served as a guest on NBC, UPN, WB and many other local television and radio stations across the country. Cho also created The Wedding Planning Board Game.

FAQS

1. Can I register for programs if I am an international student?

Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.

2. How long does it take to complete a program?

All of our programs are self-paced and open-enrollment. You can start and finish the program at your own pace. Upon registering, you're given an initial nine months to complete this program.

3. Do I have to buy additional materials?

All the materials you'll need are included, and their cost will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials ground service upon enrollment.

4. Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

5. What happens when I complete the program?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. This program also provides you with a professional wedding planning certification.

6. Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

7. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via email, phone, and Skype) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

8. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs, and what are the system requirements?

In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

9. Can I use a Mac?

Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.

10. How can I get more information about the program?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button toward the top of the page). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Contact Us" form to the right. You may also call us at 1-855-520-6806. We will answer your questions promptly.

11. When can I start the program?

Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready.

Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.

12. Will the Certified Wedding Planner Program give me the skills I need?

Certified Wedding Planner graduates are better trained and earn a higher income than the average wedding planner. This is the most comprehensive certification program available for this profession.

13. What kind of income can I expect to earn as a Certified Wedding Planner?

Your earning potential is dependent on where you live, the population, your performance and business offerings, and how many weddings and social events you plan annually. Also, whether you plan on working full- or part-time will be a major factor.

Graduates who apply the training from this program to their career have the potential to make $100,000 per year or more, depending on how many weddings and social events they produce each year.

Your income and earnings will ultimately be determined by what you plan to offer in your business, any other products or services you provide, and your marketing efforts. This program will walk you through the process step-by-step, to show you how to figure out what you can earn and how to structure your business model and increase revenue.

14. What is a typical day like for a wedding consultant?

A day in the life of a wedding consultant can be an exciting and rewarding one, but it’s also hard work. Your workday will be a combination of phone calls, emails, and meetings with brides and vendors, plus research, and of course planning and designing that special day for clients.

The needs of each bride will dictate the day's events. A large part of your job will involve communicating with vendors and conducting research for clients. You’ll also be overseeing services on the day of the event and will be there to support the bride. Expect to include evening and weekend hours in your business schedule.

15. What exactly is a certified wedding planner responsible for in working with a bride?

In the initial meeting with the bride, a wedding planner will be asking questions and learning more about what the bride would like for her wedding day. Once this information has been gathered, the consultant will then start researching and talking to vendors to see who is available on that date and will start booking vendors for the couple. If the bride needs a consultant to attend the wedding that day, the consultant will handle all necessary arrangements.

It’s the responsibility of the wedding planner to be a project manager and help the bride produce her ideal wedding, to guide her in the right direction, and to always look out for her best interest. Ultimately, the bridal couple will dictate what they would like a wedding planner to help with.

16. What is the difference between a wedding or bridal consultant, a wedding planner, and a wedding director?

A wedding or bridal consultant works in partnership with the couple and guides them through the process of making wedding decisions. Couples working with a consultant are very much in control of their wedding plans, but can rest assured they have professional guidance and assistance when needed. This allows the couple to enjoy the wedding planning process, making it as fun and stress-free as possible.

A wedding planner is similar to a project manager. A wedding planner takes charge and plans the details of a wedding from start to finish. The couple is still involved, but most of the leg work is left to the planner, who will make their arrangements for them.

A wedding director coordinates the details, vendors, and itinerary on the wedding day. All concerns are placed on the shoulders of the wedding director during the event. The couple doesn't need to get caught up in the small details and can enjoy their guests and the day's celebration.

17. What if I don't have enough time to complete my program within the time frame provided?

The time allotted to complete your program has been calculated based on the number of hours for each program, so don't worry too much about not completing in time. If, after a concerted effort, you are still unable to complete, your Student Advisor will help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that a fee will be charged for an extension.

REVIEWS

Wow, how quickly time flies. It seems I just began the Certified Wedding Planner course and now it’s almost complete. I've learned quite a bit and have been able to apply some of those skills to my own wedding.- G.E., University of Wisconsin-Platteville

This wonderful journey to become a Certified Wedding Planner is going to be coming to an end very soon. I have really enjoyed all of the challenges that the assignments have brought and I feel that I have learned the skills that are needed to be successful with my future career. This course has also armed me with the skills to plan an amazing wedding for my cousin this summer and I can't wait.- S.B., University of Central Florida

This course has truly been an eye opener. I had no idea that the passion I had for the wedding and event industry could grow to be so much more. I've been working with wedding planners for the past 5 years now, and enrolled in this course to better myself and my education. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have learned so many beneficial concepts and tools that I know I will use in the future. I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone looking to further their career in the field and gain valuable information to help them become a better planner.- L.K., Tidewater Community College